January 2025 Minutes
Washingborough Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 15th January 2025 at 6.00pm in the Pavilion
Meeting Room, Fen Road, Washingborough, Lincoln. LN4 1AB
Present:
• Cllr Mrs L Simons (Chairman)
• Cllr Mrs B Bland
• Cllr A Fraser
• Cllr R Harrington (part)
• Cllr Mrs L Hannam
• Cllr Mrs A Nixon
• Cllr G Peck
• Cllr Mrs W Skelton
In Attendance: Miss K Broddle (Clerk) and Mrs E Salter (Assistant Clerk).
Also present: Cllr I Carrington & Cllr C Goodwin (NKDC) and Cllr L Cawrey (LCC)
Members of the Public: There were three members of the public present.
a. Public Forum: A member of the public raised concerns over the recent flooding issues.
b. Reports from LCC and NKDC: Cllr Carrington spoke regarding the recent flooding situation and requested that
any communication the Parish Council have regarding the problem is also sent to him and Cllr Cawrey.
Councillor Cawrey’s report is appended.
61. Localism Act 2011 requirements:
a. Apologies and reasons for absence were received and resolved from Cllrs Mrs J Aspinall and Cllr Mrs R Whipp.
b. Declarations of interest: Cllr Mrs B Bland, Cllr A Fraser, Cllr Mrs A Nixon, Cllr G Peck and Cllr Mrs L Simons.
c. Applications for dispensation were received from: Cllr Mrs B Bland, Cllr A Fraser, Cllr Mrs A Nixon, Cllr G Peck and Cllr Mrs L Simons
62. Draft notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 11th December 2024 were proposed, seconded and
resolved for signing as the minutes.
63. Matters raised at Public Forum: a resident talked about the recent flooding, the condition of the South Delph
banks, near to Sandhill Beck pumping station and concerns regarding waste on his land.
64. Clerks Report (for information only):
a. The Council were very grateful to Premier Engineering Supplies for their kind donation of batteries for the defibrillator.
b. The road closure on Canterbury Drive, between Durham Crescent and Julia Road, from 27/01/25 to 21/03/25 for Electrical Distribution work, was noted.
65. To receive the draft notes from the Finance and General Purposes Committee Meeting held on 9th January and to
resolve the following recommendations:
a. The update to the Grants and Donations applications: it was proposed, seconded and resolved to add the
following to the applications - the payment will only be made to the applicant or the responsible financial officer of the group.
b. The recommendation that the 2025/26 precept is £214,314 - it was proposed, seconded and resolved to
accept the recommendation.
c. The contractual salary increases for staff for 2025/26, pending confirmation from the National Association of – Local Councils, it was proposed, seconded and resolved to accept the salary increase.
d. The applicable staffing incremental increase – it was proposed, seconded and resolved for the applicable staff
to move to their new incremental scale point from 1st April 2025.
e. The grant budget cap of £1750.00 – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to accept this figure.
66. To discuss and resolve the following items:
a. To consider two street names for the land off Canterbury Drive – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to request the that Riseholme and Leeds be considered for the new roads.
b. To hold the Scarecrow festival this year – it was proposed, seconded and resolved for the festival to go ahead but that a theme be introduced.
c. The tennis club request to replace their Pavilion Door – it was proposed, seconded and resolve that Council agree the work can go ahead.
d. The communication from Telecom Infrastructure regarding purchasing the Telecoms Mast – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to decline this offer and to stay with Arqiva Services.
e. The request from NKDC regarding the Digital Hub (re minute 28a, of July 17th 2024) it was proposed, seconded and resolved to decline the offer from NKDC for the Digital Hub.
f. The proposed Zebra crossing and speed reduction on the B1190, Lincoln Road – it was proposed, seconded and resolved that no comments be made on these proposals.
g. The email from a resident regarding Stagecoach bus service no. 2 – it was noted that Council has no responsibility regarding public transport and asked the clerking team to advise the resident to contact Stagecoach or the County Council, who do have responsibility for public transport, to see if they are able to look into the concerns.
h. Update from the Flooding working party – following the flooding this month, in was proposed, seconded and
resolved to send a letter to our MP, E A, and IDB raising our concerns. This letter is to be copied to Cllrs
Carrington and Cawrey and a local land owner. The letter is to include a request for a meeting, to discuss our
ongoing issues.
67. Planning Matters.
a. To resolve any comments on the following applications received:
i. 25/0003/TPO: 83 Main Road – Work to trees. Council do not wish to comment on the application.
ii. 24/1469/FUL: Manor Farm, Church Hill – proposed erection of an additional unit. Council do not wish to comment on this application.
b. To ratify comments returned under Clerks delegated powers:
i. 24/1389/TCA: Holly Lodge, Church Hill – work to trees. Council did not wish to make any
comments on this application.
c. The decisions on the following applications were noted:
i. 24/1222/ADV: Destec Engineering Ltd, Five Mile Lane – Approved.
ii. 24/1155/FUL: Destec Engineering Ltd, Five Mile Lane – Approved.
iii. 12/1285/HOUS: Penfold Barn, 19 School Lane – Approved.
iv. 24/1321/HOUS: 60 Lincoln Road – Approved
68. Finance matters
a. The payment schedule for January 2024 was proposed, seconded and resolved and the salaries were noted.
b. The accounts and budgets for December 2024 were noted.
c. The Unity Trust Bank statement for December 2024 was noted.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 7.23pm.
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS: January 2025 Amount
Petty Cash
£0.00
Current Account
15-Jan-25 NKDC NDR (CC) £418.00
15-Jan-25 NKDC NDR (P) £358.00
15-Jan-25 ESPO Gas (P) - Nov £225.46
15-Jan-25 ESPO Gas (CC) - Nov £883.24
15-Jan-25 Total Power Electric (CC - Nov) £355.05
15-Jan-25 Total Power Electric(CC - Dec) £352.70
15-Jan-25 XLN Telephone & Broadband £125.33
15-Jan-25 Wave Water Rates (P) £116.00
15-Jan-25 NKDC Small Society Lotteries £20.00
15-Jan-25 ESPO Gas (P) - Dec £265.22
15-Jan-25 ESPO Gas (CC) - Dec £954.86
15-Jan-25 Ricoh Photocopier Rental & Copies £224.28
15-Jan-25 Origin Pitch Line Marker £244.20
15-Jan-25 S. Hall Bulb, Pavilion Drain Pipes £60.35
15-Jan-25 JKBS Pavilion Changing Room Ceilings £1,688.00
£6,290.69
Salaries etc.
Salaries, etc £10,250.17
Total expenditure: January 2025 £16,540.86
LCC Report – Cllr Cawrey
Council Tax
The Executive is recommending to full council, which will meet on 21 February, to accept a council tax increase of three per cent. While this will require the county council to look for further savings across all departmental budgets, we do not want to add a further financial burden to our residents, at this especially difficult time, who are already feeling the effects of tax rises imposed by the government.
Water Rail Way
Due to the now regular flooding of the Water Rail Way, I continue to push for the (re)installation of the footpath along Washingborough Road as a sustainable route for residents to travel on foot (and hopefully bicycle) between the village and Lincoln. I acknowledge that this process is taking longer than we would like, but I am not going to stop pestering until the work is done.
I keep being asked, by residents, what Highways are going to do about the flooding along the track, but we don't have the power to do anything. As I understand it, the Water Rail Way is operated by Railway Paths Ltd, working closely with Sustrans. More information can be found at: www.railwaypaths.org.uk
It is worth noting that the hedges along Washingborough Road have been cut back considerably, as per my request, which has revealed more of the verge and remnants of the old footpath, which is great, but the pestering continues!
Pavement Parking
Something which I meant to mention at yesterday's meeting, the Executive at the county council has agreed to support a Sustrans campaign to introduce a ban on pavement parking across England. As members will know, the ban on pavement parking is only in place in London and Scotland, but it is a matter that is brought to me often.
While it will not solve the problem of inconsiderate (but legal parking) on roads in the village, such as Oak Hill and Policemans Lane, it should bring in new powers to prevent the blocking of pavements so that pedestrian and people using wheelchairs can pass safely.
I don't have timescales or further information at this time, but it may be worth keeping a watch on: www.sustrans.org.uk
Flooding
I remain in close touch with Cllr Ian Carrington, in neighbouring Heighington, and in his capacity as chairman of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee at the county council on these matters - particularly as we respond to IDB and EA correspondence.
I have also been contacted by residents in the village concerned about specific blocked drains and gullies and I am working to get these on the jetting schedule. As members will remember, the county council agreed to purchase further jetting capacity to deal with blockages, so I am working to get Washingborough's drains and gullies on the priority list.